3 Best Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tours (2023)
With plenty of beautiful trails and breathtaking views, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts and sightseers alike! And while it’s easy enough to wander through the area on your own if you have a car, those looking for an adventure should definitely consider going on one of the many Red Rock Canyon horseback riding tours available!
For those who don’t know, there are several companies that offer horseback riding tours through Red Rock Canyon. The only problem is that they all promise an unforgettable experience! So what’s the best way to choose?
To help make your decision, I’ve put together a list of the top 3 tours that I highly recommend! And hopefully, by the end, you’ll be able to confidently book the perfect tour for you!
Table of Contents
- 3 Best Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tours
- Why Take a Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tour?
- What to Bring for Red Rocks Horseback Riding
- Where to Stay in Las Vegas
- Red Rock Canyon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrap-Up: Best Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tours
3 Best Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tours
1. Morning Maverick Horseback Ride with Breakfast from Las Vegas
✅ BOOK Morning Maverick Horseback Ride with Breakfast from Las Vegas Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.87 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours
The Morning Maverick Horseback Ride with Breakfast from Las Vegas Tour includes:
- Start time 7:15 am
- Roundtrip trip hotel transport from Las Vegas Strip to working horse ranch in Moapa
- Friendly professional wrangler and guides
- All the necessary equipment to ride a horse
- A quick lesson on how to ride horses
- Pairing with a tame horse that complements your skill level
- 1.5-hour Horseback trail ride along the same trails used by infamous outlaws
- Helmets for those who would like one
- All riders 12 years old and under must wear one
- Spotting other wildlife in the area
- I.e. bighorn sheep, roadrunners, jackrabbits, llamas, etc.!
- Authentic and hearty western-style breakfast
- Pancakes, choice of meat, hashbrowns, eggs, toast, coffee, and orange juice
- Vegetarian options available upon request
Why choose this tour?
This is the highest-rated and most popular tour of Red Rock Canyon on Horseback! It’s also the best in that you get the biggest bang for your buck since this tour is the most affordable and comprehensive one!
Whether you’re a complete beginner like myself or an experienced rider like some of my friends, this tour is the perfect fit. The guides are super personable, make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way, and do an overall amazing job ensuring the experience is unforgettable. Oh, and the food is super delicious, which is always an added bonus!! 🤠
If you want the most incredible start to your day, I cannot recommend this tour enough! Just make sure you dress appropriately for the weather!
“What an amazing experience! Do not think about it twice and just do yourself a favor and book this. From the driver to the wranglers to the horses and other animals you get to see and interact with, this was my favorite part of my entire trip to Vegas! I will always do this when I’m back in town.“
– Dorianis (see more reviews)
✅ BOOK Morning Maverick Horseback Ride with Breakfast from Las Vegas Tour
2. Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride and Barbeque
✅ BOOK Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride and Barbeque Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.83 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours
The Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride and Barbeque Tour includes:
- Hotel pick up approximately 3 hours before sunset
- Expert wrangler guide
- All the necessary equipment to ride a horse
- 90-minute sunset horseback ride through the majestic Red Rock Canyon
- Watch the sunset over the Las Vegas Valley
- Warm up around a campfire barbecue
- Includes grilled meats (steak, chicken, or salmon), corn on the cob, fresh salad, baked beans, potatoes, and tasty cowboy s’mores
- Vegetarian options available upon request
- Soft drinks and bottled water
- Drop off back at the designated hotel
Why choose this tour?
This is one of the highest-rated Red Rock Canyon horseback riding tours and has been taken by more than 700 people! Unlike the other two tour options, this tour allows you to admire the striking Red Rocks at dusk and into the night! Plus, you get to gather around the campfire, eat the ultimate Western desert dinner, and indulge in some cowboy s’mores!
So, if you aren’t a morning person or simply are a glutton for breathtaking sunsets (🙋🏽♀️), then this tour is for you!
🔥 NOTE: For those who don’t know, cowboy s’mores are the elite s’mores… It’s a perfectly gooey marshmallow sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies! 🤤 Pretty great way to end the night if you ask me 😉
“This was a beautiful place to ride! The wranglers were so helpful and fun! They constantly rotated between the riders to ensure everyone was comfortable and to see if there were any questions. You could feel the positive energy as they interacted with one another and with the guests. The food was delicious and the s’mores were the perfect ending. Would definitely recommend!”
– Lisa (see more reviews)
✅ BOOK Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride and Barbeque Tour
3. 2-Hour Horseback Riding through Red Rock Canyon
✅ BOOK 2-Hour Horseback Riding through Red Rock Canyon Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.80 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours
The 2-Hour Horseback Riding through Red Rock Canyon Tour includes:
- Start time is 7 – 8 am during the summer and 9 am during cooler months
- Roundtrip pick up and drop off from hotels along the Las Vegas Strip
- Friendly expert wrangler guides
- Stories about the history and background of the area
- All necessary equipment to ride a horse
- A basic lesson in horse riding and the proper techniques
- 2-hour horseback ride through the mesmerizing Red Rock Canyon area
Why choose this tour?
For those who aren’t interested or don’t want food included in their tour package, I recommend this fantastic tour. You’ll get to spend the most time on the trail with your horse and be able to enjoy the dramatic rocks as the morning light hits them!
“Great experience, the wranglers and horses were amazing. I highly recommend this excursion. We had no horseback riding experience and it was no problem at all!”
– Nicholas (see more reviews)
✅ BOOK 2-Hour Horseback Riding through Red Rock Canyon Tour
Why Take a Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tour?
Honestly, I think it’s harder to come up with an excuse not to go 😅 But if you’re unsure about doing a Red Rocks horseback riding tour, here are some reasons why I love them!
First of all, it’s the perfect way to get up close and personal with the dramatic natural landscape of Nevada. You’ll not only get to experience nature like never before, but you’ll also get unparalleled local insight into the area’s vast wildlife and history from your friendly and knowledgeable wrangler guide.
In addition, with all the tours I’ve recommended providing transportation, you’ll be able to easily escape the city, regardless if you have a car or not.
All you have to do is be ready for pick up and then it’s smooth sailing until you return back to your hotel! Perfect for those who don’t want to deal with navigating an area with weak cellular reception or visitors in the city for a limited amount of time!
Lastly, opting for a Red Rocks horseback riding tour provides you with a unique perspective of the wonderful Mojave desert region. Most people never venture outside the main Las Vegas area, but there’s so much more to a place than its main attraction!
Ultimately, the decision is yours. But, if you have the time and means to go, I would highly recommend it. It’s such a fantastic experience that you’ll likely never forget.
What to Bring For Red Rocks Horseback Riding
In the event you do decide to take a Red Rocks horseback riding tour, here are some things you’ll want to bring with you in a bag.
- 🧥 Light Jacket – If you go anytime outside of the summertime, bring at least a light jacket. The desert region is pretty cold anytime the sun is not shining above because there are no large bodies of water to help moderate temperatures.
- 💧 Water – Bring plenty of water! You don’t want to become dehydrated while sitting on top of a horse…we all know how unfortunate that could be…
- 🧴 Sunscreen – Wear lots of sunscreen to protect your skin from the blistering sun.
- 🥾 Closed Toe Shoes – Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes so your feet are protected!
- 👖 Pants – It’s extremely dusty at Red Rocks and the wind will fling lots of dust and dirt in your direction. I recommend wearing pants or leggings to protect yourself and remain relatively clean
- 📸 Camera – Whether it’s your phone or a separate camera, don’t forget to bring something to capture all the memories!
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
If you’re looking for places to stay in the Vegas area, feel free to use the interactive map below to search various housing options across several booking platforms 🙂
Red Rock Canyon: Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know what the 3 best Red Rock Canyon horseback riding tours are, here are my answers to some commonly asked questions! 🙂
What Is Red Rock Canyon Known For?
As you can likely guess from the name…Red Rock Canyon is known for its striking red rock formations scattered across more than 195,000 acres of land.
However, it’s not just the breathtaking landscapes that draw millions of visitors to the area each year. Red Rocks is also known for its many hiking trails, 600+ different species of flora and fauna, and thousands of climbing routes.
Visitors can even camp here if they would like to! I have, and it was absolutely astonishing to see so many stars at night!
How Was Red Rock Canyon Formed?
Without overwhelming you with a way too in-depth history and geology lesson…the Red Rock Canyon we all know and see today was formed about 66 million years ago.
Essentially, movement along the Keystone Thrust Fault caused the older gray sedimentary rock to move over younger red rocks. But instead of just covering up one layer of rock with another, the two layers pushed against each other generating the multi-colored rock formations we see today.
And as for the red color, it comes from the oxidation of the iron minerals in the sediments.
Is Red Rock Canyon a National Park?
No, Red Rock Canyon is not one of the 63 National Parks in the United States. The official name of Red Rocks is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area!
Is Red Rock Canyon Worth Visiting?
As someone who has visited Red Rock Canyon multiple times, I can easily say that everyone should visit Red Rock Canyon at least once.
There’s no better way to escape the Las Vegas hustle and bustle than to take a day trip to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
But, if you’re still on the fence, consider reading my post dedicated to helping you decide whether Red Rock Canyon is right for you! I detail everything you need to know about visiting, the most popular things to do, and everything you can expect during your visit!
How Far Is Red Rock Canyon From Las Vegas Strip?
Red Rock Canyon is located 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. It takes approximately 20-25 minutes to reach Red Rocks by car.
Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Prices
Depending on the tour you select, you can expect a horseback riding tour through Red Rock Canyon to cost anywhere from $120 – $190 USD.
I know this can be on the more expensive side, but it really is worth every penny.
Plus, it’s obvious that the wranglers are passionate about what they do and truly care for every single one of the animals. And as someone who has three rescue dogs of her own, I will gladly support anyone who treats animals with respect and does their best to provide an incredible experience for visitors!
How Long is the Red Rock Canyon Tour?
On average, the tours last about 5 hours. However, if there are more people signed up for the tour, it can run a little longer due to having to make multiple stops picking up and dropping off people.
In terms of the actual time spent riding the horses, this portion of the tour lasts about 1 hour and a half to about 2 hours, depending on your specific tour!
Can You Tour Red Rock Canyon on Your Own?
If you have access to a car, it is definitely possible to tour Red Rock Canyon on your own. I’ve done it many times with some friends and it’s always a blast!
But if you are without a form of transportation, taking a tour is your best and easiest option. And it’s worth mentioning that there are tons of different tours available!
Here are some of the other best red rock canyon tours available:
- Red Rock Canyon hiking tour (⭐️ 5.0 | ⏳ ~4 hours long )
- Scooter Tour of Red Rock Canyon (⭐️ 5.0 | ⏳ ~4 hours long)
- Scooter Car Tour of Red Rock Canyon (⭐️ 5.0 | ⏳ ~4.5 hours long)
⛰ NOTE: Unfortunately, there are no Red Rock Canyon ATV tours available yet… but who knows… there may be some in the future!
Wrap-Up: Best Red Rock Canyon Horseback Riding Tours
If you’re looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas for a day, Red Rock Canyon is the perfect solution. With its dramatic rocks and stunning views, it’s easy to see why this desert oasis is such a popular destination.
And what better way to experience all that Red Rock Canyon has to offer than on horseback? All top three tours will take you through the canyon and on an adventure that you’ll never forget.
So, plan your trip today and see what this fantastic area has to offer! You won’t regret it 🙂 I certainly haven’t the last 5 times I’ve been!
